Hyperoliidae | |
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Heterixalus alboguttatus | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Anura |
Clade: | Afrobatrachia |
Family: | Hyperoliidae Laurent, 1943 |
Genera | |
17 genera (see text) |
The Hyperoliidae, or sedge frogs and bush frogs, are a large family of small to medium-sized, brightly colored frogs which contain more than 250 species in 19 genera. Seventeen genera are native to sub-Saharan Africa. [1] In addition, the monotypic genus Tachycnemis occurs on the Seychelles Islands, and the genus Heterixalus (currently 10 species) is endemic to Madagascar.
Hyperoliids range from 1.5 to 8 cm (0.59 to 3.15 in) in body length. Many species have smooth, brightly patterned skin that almost looks enameled. [2]
Most hyperoliids are arboreal, but some are terrestrial, including several Kassina species that move by walking or running rather than hopping. Diets vary widely, with examples including Paracassina , which specializes in snails, [3] and Afrixalus fornasini , the only terrestrial frog known to prey on eggs of other species of anurans.
Breeding in this family begins at the start of the rainy season, when hyperoliids congregate at breeding sites. Most hyperoliids lay their eggs in water, although foam nesting, tree-hole breeding, and laying eggs in vegetation above water are all known behaviors. [2] Afrixalus builds leaf nests for its eggs, by folding and gluing the edges of the leaves. Tadpoles are pond type larvae with large dorsal fins on their tails.
No fossil hyperoliids are known.
As of mid-2022, there are 17 genera with 224 species, more than half of them in the very species-rich Hyperolius: [4] The genera are divided between three subfamilies, with three genera unplaced.
Sooglossidae, the Seychelles frogs or Seychelles Island frogs, are a family of frogs found on the Seychelles Islands. Until recently, this family was believed to include the genera Sechellophryne, Nesomantis and Sooglossus, but following a major revision of amphibians in 2006, the genus Nesomantis was named a junior synonym of Sooglossus. Their closest relatives are the purple frogs (Nasikabatrachidae) of India.
The Microhylidae, commonly known as narrow-mouthed frogs, are a geographically widespread family of frogs. The 683 species are in 57 genera and 11 subfamilies.
The Arthroleptidae are a family of frogs found in sub-Saharan Africa. This group includes African treefrogs in the genus Leptopelis along with the terrestrial breeding squeakers Arthroleptis, and several genera restricted to the Guinean forests of central and west Africa, such as the hairy frog (Trichobatrachus).
Kassina is a genus of hyperoliid frogs, commonly referred to as running frogs or kassinas. They are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. They are characterized by preferring a distinctive "walking" with the back legs instead of the more traditional frog-hopping.
The golden banana frog, golden dwarf reed frog, golden spiny reed frog, or golden leaf-folding frog is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in lowland coastal plains of eastern South Africa, Eswatini, and southern Mozambique. The AmphibiaWeb includes Afrixalus crotalus in this species as a subspecies, whereas the Amphibian Species of the World and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species treat A. crotalus as a full species.
Afrixalus, commonly known as the banana frogs, spiny reed frogs, cat's eye reed frogs, or leaf-folding frogs, is a genus of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. They occur in the Subsaharan Africa. They lay their eggs in vegetation above water, often folding leaves around the eggs for protection—hence the common name "leaf-folding frogs".
Afrixalus crotalus is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in southern Malawi, central Mozambique, and eastern Zimbabwe. It might be a subspecies of Afrixalus aureus, a position adopted by the AmphibiaWeb. It is sometimes known as the Zimbabwe banana frog or snoring spiny reed frog.
Afrixalus equatorialis, also known as the Congo banana frog, is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in the central parts of the Congo Basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and south-eastern Cameroon, and is likely to be found in the Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic as well. It might be conspecific with Afrixalus nigeriensis and is closely related to Afrixalus leucostictus.
Afrixalus leucostictus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to eastern and central Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its relationship with Afrixalus equatorialis is not fully understood. Common names Makese banana frog and speckled spiny reed frog have been proposed for it.
Afrixalus paradorsalis, also called Foulassi banana frog and the false striped spiny reed frog, is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is native to Africa, where it occurs in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria.
Hyperolius diaphanus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and is known from near the Itombwe Mountains and the mountains to the west of Lake Kivu. Limits of its range are not clear and might extend into the adjacent Burundi and Rwanda. Common names Kigulube reed frog and translucent reed frog have been proposed for this species.
Hyperolius frontalis is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, from northwest of Mount Rwenzori, south to west of Lake Kivu, extending into extreme south-western Uganda in the Bwindi Forest. Common names Bushoho reed frog and white-snouted reed frog have been coined for this species.
Hyperolius schoutedeni is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is known from the northern half of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, central-west and southeastern Republic of the Congo, and southeastern Gabon; its true range probably extends into the adjacent Central African Republic and South Sudan. It is morphologically very similar to Hyperolius cinnamomeoventris and has been confused with that species. However, molecular data suggests that its closest relatives include Hyperolius kivuensis, Hyperolius balfouri, and Hyperolius quinquevittatus, rather than H. cinnamomeoventris.
Hyperolius semidiscus is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in southern and eastern South Africa and in Eswatini, and it is likely to be present in Mozambique. Common names yellow-striped reed frog, yellow-flanked reed frog, and Hewitt's reed frog have been coined for it.
Paracassina kounhiensis is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to Ethiopian highlands east of the Rift Valley. Its natural habitats is montane grassland, less commonly the margins of montane forest. It breeds in marshes and pools. While still locally abundant, it is threatened by habitat loss. A part of its range is within the Bale Mountains National Park.
Paracassina obscura is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to Ethiopian highlands west of the Rift Valley. Its natural habitats are montane grasslands, less commonly forest margins. It is also known from a few clearings in tropical deciduous forest, rural gardens, and urban areas. It could be threatened by habitat loss.
Burton, R.; Burton, M. (2002). "Reed frogs" (PDF). Marshall Cavendish International Wildlife Encyclopedia. Vol. 15 (3rd ed.). Marshall Cavendish. pp. 2146–2147. ISBN 978-0-7614-7266-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-29.